ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 3 October 1911, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

RUGBY FOOTBALL. DISGRACEFUL MATCH UP NORTH, , - TEAMS GET TO BLOWS. .(By Tclecra'Dh.—Special Correspondent.) ■ ' Auckland, October 2. Some rough football was witnessed at Alexandra Park on Saturday when tho 'season was brought to a close by the match between City and Mnrist Brothers Old Boys. The "Herald's" football writer eays:Tho actual play cannot be said to have closed tho season iu praiseworthy 6tyk, tho game developing into a booting and panelling struggle. The forwards of both sides, with few exceptions, wero guilty of indiscriminate hacking, obstruction, and punching, tho City team being tho worst offenders. In one melee on tho line-out the referca's eye caught M'Dovitt, of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys retaliating, and ho •■was ordered oIF tho field. Ho was unfor- - tunats'in that others had been guiity of the same, or worse, tactics, but' had escaped ' official notice. The fierceness of tho play may bo gauged when it is mentioned that ; on ono occasion, F. Herring, of tho Manst team, when on the ground, received a hard kick on tho face even though the ball was yards away. He was Btnnned by the kick and, when he had recovered, finished the gamo with a bloodcovered face worse than it is possible to get in a prize ring. ~ Old. and hardened players, watching the game, held their breath nt times, and ono tersely summed up the situation in 'the: arena with* the remark: "It's pretty thick out' there to-day." Another regrettable feature was the manner in which, some of the spectators incited.the players to foul deeds, inch rough play and the inciting by partisans are things which,will kill Rugby football. The opposition of the Northern Union and Association games and hockey does not work half the harm that an exhibition such as Saturday's does to the gcod old game of Rugby, tho objects of which are to :score tries and goals by fair and le-. gitimate means in tho course of a healthy pastime, and not to maim and disfigure opponents because a paltry cup or fleetJng honour is at stake. ' . THE INTER-ISLAND MATCH. States uho New Zealand Rugby. Union: "The Rugby fixture for. next Saturday will ?robably attract a largo crowd to Athletic 'ark. The utteT-ialajid match, North v. South, is always the best exposition oi football to be seen in New Zealand, and this year it shoiild prove a great game, rnnce the lateness 01 tho fixture in tho season has enabled the selectors to pick teams on the true form of the players." The South Island team, whicli has also been forwarded by, the Now Zealand Rugby Union, appeared in The Dominion eomo days aso. HOUSE MATCH. A "house" football match was played yesterday afternoon at Miramar between teams represemtiiuf Mesa's. Nathan ami Co. (Defiance) anil Messrs. Hill and Barton .(Daphne). The latter.won by 15 points to nil. Collett scored two tries and potted a. goal, and Kill scored a try, which ho converted. Tho gamo was controlled by Mr, Meredith. . .